The Holocaust

“Some of the people disapproved, but their disapproval was only silence…”

Kurt Messerschmidt, Jewish Survivor

Catastrophe

What does catastrophe mean?

What is a working definition for your group?

Catastrophes…

Who is likely to study human catastrophes and why?

What kinds of questions would people studying human catastrophes want to answer?

How would the questions be different from questions that might be asked about natural catastrophes?

Vocabulary for Holocaust Introduction…

Brownshirts Jehovah’s Witness

Collaborator Kristallnacht Program

Nazi Concentration Camp

Discrimination Pogrom

Reich European Jewry

Genocide Shoah

Gestapo Sinti-Roma

Gypsies Survivor

Holocaust Homosexual

Kristallnacht Kristallnacht ProgramProgram

1938, several laws passed in 1938, several laws passed in Germany restricting Jewish economic Germany restricting Jewish economic activity and occupational activity and occupational opportunities. opportunities.

July 1938, Jews required to carry July 1938, Jews required to carry identification cardsidentification cards

Late 1938, 17,000 Polish Jews Late 1938, 17,000 Polish Jews arrested and relocated to the Polish arrested and relocated to the Polish frontier in “relocation camps”frontier in “relocation camps”

Kristallnacht…Kristallnacht…

Among the deportees- Zindel Among the deportees- Zindel GrynszpanGrynszpan Moved to Hanover, Germany, in 1911Moved to Hanover, Germany, in 1911 Owned a storeOwned a store 27 October forced to move back to 27 October forced to move back to

Poland with his familyPoland with his family The store and home were confiscated by The store and home were confiscated by

the Nazisthe Nazis

Kristallnacht…Kristallnacht…

Grynszpan’s seventeen year old son Grynszpan’s seventeen year old son was living in Paris at the time…was living in Paris at the time… Decides to shoot the German Decides to shoot the German

ambassador in France: Nov. 7thambassador in France: Nov. 7th Ambassador is away from the embassy Ambassador is away from the embassy

and Grynszpan decides to shoot a low and Grynszpan decides to shoot a low ranking diplomat.ranking diplomat.

Third Secretary, Ernst vom Roth: Died Nov. Third Secretary, Ernst vom Roth: Died Nov. 9th9th

Kristallnacht…Kristallnacht…

Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s Chief of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s Chief of Propaganda, views the killing as an Propaganda, views the killing as an attack against the Reichattack against the Reich

Launches the Kristallnacht ProgramLaunches the Kristallnacht Program ““ Night of the Broken Glass”Night of the Broken Glass”

November 9November 9thth and 10 and 10thth

7500 businesses destroyed7500 businesses destroyed 100 Jews Killed100 Jews Killed 30,000 Jews arrested and sent to Camps30,000 Jews arrested and sent to Camps

AssignmentAssignment

What questions do you have about your What questions do you have about your document?document?

Does your document justify what Does your document justify what happened in the Kristallnacht Program?happened in the Kristallnacht Program?

What do you think the relevance of the What do you think the relevance of the document is for the events that have document is for the events that have recently taken place in Germany?recently taken place in Germany?

ANTISEMITISMANTISEMITISM

Antisemitism had become Antisemitism had become suddenly very rampant…suddenly very rampant…

-H. Henry Sinason-H. Henry Sinason

Jewish SurvivorJewish Survivor

ANTISEMITISMANTISEMITISM-Students should be able to define antisemitism and -Students should be able to define antisemitism and

understand its origins.understand its origins.

-Identify similarities and differences between Pre-Nazi and Post-Nazi beliefs about Jews in Germany and Europe.

-Look at propaganda methods that the Nazis used to exploit antisemitic attitudes among the German people and to isolate Jews from the rest of the population.

-Consider historical and contemporary examples of antisemitism, propaganda, and stereotyping.

Question to Question to ponder…ponder…

What do you think life What do you think life was like for Jews in was like for Jews in Germany prior to Hitler’s Germany prior to Hitler’s rise to power?rise to power?

Further Questions…Further Questions…

What supported your thinking or disproved What supported your thinking or disproved your thinking in the video clips you saw?your thinking in the video clips you saw?

In his testimony, how does John Graham describe his feelings for Germany before the war?

Further Questions…Further Questions…H. Henry Sinason mentions that his H. Henry Sinason mentions that his

father considered himself German father considered himself German first and Jewish second. What does first and Jewish second. What does this tell you about how Jews this tell you about how Jews identified with their country during identified with their country during this time period?this time period?

After listening to Margaret Lambert’s testimony, what is your sense of what the relationship between Jews and non-Jews was like before the war?

Terms to Understand…Terms to Understand…

Stereotype:Stereotype:

Antisemitism:Antisemitism:

An oversimplified generalization about a person or a group of people with no regard for individual differences.

Coined in Germnay in 1879 to define anti-Jewish sentiment on a scientific basis

Post Nazi Rule Questions…Post Nazi Rule Questions…

Describe how Henry says his friends Describe how Henry says his friends have changed. Who does he believe have changed. Who does he believe is responsible for their change in is responsible for their change in attitude and behavior?attitude and behavior?

Henry Laurant makes it a point to discuss his father’s occupation and position in the community. How does Henry’s testimony ad to your understanding of what was happening in Germany during this time period?

Post Nazi Rule Questions…Post Nazi Rule Questions…

In her testimony, Judith Becker speaks In her testimony, Judith Becker speaks about a course on racism that was about a course on racism that was taught in schools. Why do you think taught in schools. Why do you think the Nazis wanted to target young the Nazis wanted to target young people with their racial ideology?people with their racial ideology?

From listening to these testimonies, what do you learn about how the atmosphere of Germany was changing?

Nazi GermanyNazi Germany

With the rise of Nazism, nothing With the rise of Nazism, nothing Jews had done for their country Jews had done for their country made any difference…made any difference…

Alfred GottschalkAlfred GottschalkJewish SurvivorJewish Survivor

Nazi GermanyNazi Germany Learn about the Weimar Republic and Learn about the Weimar Republic and

the Nazis’ rise to powerthe Nazis’ rise to power Examine historical events tht allowed for Examine historical events tht allowed for

a dramatic change in social policies in a dramatic change in social policies in Germany between 1933 and 1939Germany between 1933 and 1939

Examine materials to represent a range Examine materials to represent a range of Jewish responses to Nazi-German of Jewish responses to Nazi-German PoliciesPolicies

Consider the role and responsibility of Consider the role and responsibility of the individual in interrupting the the individual in interrupting the escalation of violence and hate.escalation of violence and hate.

Nazi GermanyNazi Germany

Democracy is…Democracy is…

Nazi GermanyNazi Germany How does Alfred Caro characterize the How does Alfred Caro characterize the

Weimar Republic in his testimony?Weimar Republic in his testimony? What information does Frank Shurman What information does Frank Shurman

share that gives insight into the “insecure share that gives insight into the “insecure situation” facing Germany at this time?situation” facing Germany at this time?

Given what you heard in the testimonies, Given what you heard in the testimonies, how confident do you think the people how confident do you think the people were in the status of their government?were in the status of their government?

The Ghettos…The Ghettos…

““It was the beginning of the end…”It was the beginning of the end…”

-Ellis Lewin-Ellis Lewin

Jewish SurvivorJewish Survivor

Nazi’s goal for placing Nazi’s goal for placing Jews in the Ghettos…Jews in the Ghettos…

The Nazi’s goal when closing the Jews in The Nazi’s goal when closing the Jews in ghettos was to deprive them not only of ghettos was to deprive them not only of human rights, but also human dignity. human rights, but also human dignity.

This time period is often referred to as the “bypass death” period. More than 80 000 Jews died in the ghetto of Warsaw alone.

Why Couldn’t Jews Why Couldn’t Jews Leave?Leave?

The Holocaust created a world of The Holocaust created a world of choiceless choices…choiceless choices…

Jews did not know their ultimate fate as we do when we look back at history.

•Germans camouflaged their actions.

•Ghetto conditions caused malnutrition and sickness.

•Jews who wanted to leave often had no place to go. Helping a Jew escape was punishable by death.

•Due to quotas on immigration, Jews trying to leave Europe were often not allowed to leave. There was just no place to go.

•Overall, most Jews were trapped.

Lodz Ghetto in Poland…Lodz Ghetto in Poland…

Information taken for this part of the Information taken for this part of the discussion on the Holocaust focuses discussion on the Holocaust focuses specifically on Lodz Ghetto. Although specifically on Lodz Ghetto. Although this ghetto has its own history and unique this ghetto has its own history and unique things that happen, it can also be used to things that happen, it can also be used to identify patterns of events that took place identify patterns of events that took place in other ghetto areas throughout Nazi in other ghetto areas throughout Nazi Europe. Europe.

Students should…Students should…

Identify the aims of the Nazis in Identify the aims of the Nazis in establishing ghettos.establishing ghettos.

Specify countries in Eastern and Central Specify countries in Eastern and Central Europe where the Nazis established Europe where the Nazis established ghettos.ghettos.

Examine what life was like for Jews Examine what life was like for Jews forced to live in ghettos.forced to live in ghettos.

Consider various ways individuals Consider various ways individuals respond to unjust actions.respond to unjust actions.

Rescuers and Non-Jewish Rescuers and Non-Jewish ResistanceResistance

““Our vision in our chirch was that we always Our vision in our chirch was that we always had to help those people in need…”had to help those people in need…”

-Arie Van Mansum-Arie Van Mansum

Rescue and Aid ProviderRescue and Aid Provider

Objectives…Objectives…

►Students will understand what types of Students will understand what types of rescue occurred in Nazi-occupied Europe.rescue occurred in Nazi-occupied Europe.

► Identify motives for rescuers.Identify motives for rescuers.► Identify risks involved with non-Jews Identify risks involved with non-Jews

helping Jews. What moral choices were helping Jews. What moral choices were made?made?

►Examine the forms of assistance given to Examine the forms of assistance given to Jews during the Holocaust.Jews during the Holocaust.

► Identify obstacles and dangers for children.Identify obstacles and dangers for children.►Examine the price of apathy in the face of Examine the price of apathy in the face of

injustice.injustice.

Writing Assignment…Writing Assignment…

Think about the people you have met in Think about the people you have met in this lesson- Leslie Banos, Arie Van this lesson- Leslie Banos, Arie Van Mansum, and Miep Gies. All of them Mansum, and Miep Gies. All of them considered themselves as “ordinary” considered themselves as “ordinary” people and yet they all did extraordinary people and yet they all did extraordinary things. How might this be explained? things. How might this be explained? Why do you think some people became Why do you think some people became rescuers during the Holocaust while most rescuers during the Holocaust while most remained bystanders? What moral remained bystanders? What moral choices were made by rescuers during choices were made by rescuers during the Holocaust? the Holocaust?